Album: Magic (2007)

Charted: 95

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• Well the street lights shine
  Down on Blessing Avenue
  Lovers they walk by
  Holdin' hands two by two
  
  A breeze crosses the porch
  Bicycle spokes spin 'round
  Jacket's on, I'm out the door
  Tonight I'm gonna burn this town down
  
  And the girls in their summer clothes
  In the cool of the evening light
  The girls in their summer clothes
  Pass me by
  
  Kid's rubber ball smacks
  Off the gutter 'neath the lamp light
  Big bank clock chimes
  Off go the sleepy front porch lights
  
  Downtown the store's alive
  As the evening's underway
  Things been a little tight
  But I know they're gonna turn my way
  
  And the girls in their summer clothes
  In the cool of the evening light
  The girls in their summer clothes
  Pass me by
  
  Frankie's Diner's
  Over on the edge of town
  Neon sign spinnin' round
  Like a cross over the lost and found
  
  Fluorescent lights
  Flicker above Bob's Grill
  Shaniqua brings a coffee and asks "fill?"
  And says "penny for your thoughts now my boy Bill"
  
  She went away
  She cut me like a knife
  Hello beautiful thing
  Maybe you could save my life
  
  In just a glance
  Down here on Magic Street
  Love's a fool's dance
  I ain't got much sense but I still got my feet
  
  And the girls in their summer clothes
  In the cool of the evening light
  The girls in their summer clothes
  Pass me by
  
  And the girls in their summer clothes
  In the cool of the evening light
  The girls in their summer clothes
  Pass me by
  
  La la la la, la la la la la la la
  La la la la, la la la la la la la
  La la la la, la la la la la la la
  La la la la, la la la la la la la Writer/s: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Joe Bob from UsI read Ekristheh's comment and thought "No - Gene's reaching" - but upon listening and studying the Lyrics again...it's possible they're both on target. One thing to agree on - this tune never got the "popular appreciation" it should have. Bittersweet, Nuanced, and at the same time, so on the mark. I was surprised when Bruce's YouTube site uploaded the official video about a month ago:
• Matt from Ft. Lauderdale, FlBest song on Magic!
• Beestonpoet from Leeds, United Kingdomi'd say the song is about a guy on the beach remembering the good old days when the girls in their summer clothes didn't just pass him by . its kinda got a sadness an desperation about it. some guy who is lonley an on the prowl but things been little tight .. but he still hoping things gonna turn his way. its an amazing song ..an one of them songs that you play an it takes u to another place with its music an imaginary ..i always seem to skip to this one the most when playing MAGIC ..its like a song that i get something new from it with each play
• Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesI think both Gene and Jerry have it right. I hear both.
• Gene from San Diego, CaNo, I don't see it as the previous person sees it. The theme of the album is anti-war. Thus, when I hear the song, I think of a soldier who has returned from war to his hometown. However, upon his return, he finds that he no longer fits. While reflecting upon his former stomping grounds, he meets another woman, "Shaniqua", and falls for her. Therefore, he reignites his former self.
• Jerry from Pittsburgh, PaGirls in their summer clothes is yet another ode to the blue collar working class anti hero. Just another lament to what might have been but alas eluded the grasp. Springsteen should be viewed, in my opinion as the consumate poet for our times. He's managed to grow older with grace and proper perspective. The fatalistic and downtrodden youth of Born To Run, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, and The River, has graduated to the acceptance of what actually happens to those that are decidedly not the privileged few. We can decide for ourselves whether it's a sad ending or a life well lived. The Boss is clearly the best.

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